Shagbark Hickory with Growth on Leaves

10 years ago

My several large shagbark hickory trees have growths hanging down under the leaves that look like brown seed pods or some kind of insect pod. They are in the middle of the leaves --not along the veins or stems. The top of the leaf shows a black spot, but the underside has small (grape size) papery pods hanging down (they kind of look like pignuts, but aren't). What could they be, and what should I do? Some leaves have several and some have only one or two, but they seem to be on all of my trees. I've never seen anything like it, and can't find any pictures on line. Except for these pods hanging from the undersides of the leaves, the leaves appear to be healthy. They are definitely not normal hickory nuts.

Comments (6)

lucky_p
10 years ago
Phylloxera. Common problem on hickory and pecan(also a hickory) usually just aesthetically unpleasing - or alternatively - interesting, but rarely have any significant impact on them, long-term.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hickory Phylloxera gall
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
lucky struggles with saying: its cosmetic ...

of no significance to the tree... and they fall off.. when the leaves fall off ...

ken
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maries1120
10 years ago
And some leaves might drop earlier. This seems to vary and this year was a bad one - at least from what we've seen with the clump of shagbarks that we have.. Maybe because of the dry and very hot summer last year or maybe it just varies for no reason.
ShopperDJK
Original Author
10 years ago
Would the galls be black on the top side of the leaf and have pods like these hanging on the undersides?
IanW Zone 5 Ont. Can.
10 years ago
More information on your galls....

Here is a link that might be useful: Pouch galls
ShopperDJK
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you! I guess I should stop worrying...